Xi Xizhi didn't react for a moment, then blinked in confusion. What was wrong with An Honghan today? He was never usually interested in playing the zither, so why did he suddenly come up with the idea of ​​having the princesses hold a competition?

An Ruoyan was extremely confident. Having played the piano since elementary school, she readily agreed to the competition, asking, "What do you all think, sisters?"

This is a chance to show off, who wouldn't want to try? Besides, if their musical skills really surpass those of the Sixth Princess, they will definitely attract the attention of their elder brother, the Emperor. In that case, how could they not get the Emperor's attention?

The princesses all agreed, and Xi Xizhi recognized one of the more familiar voices. She then turned to look at a corner of the pavilion. A little girl, about ten years old, was squeezed to the very edge, and the surrounding princesses seemed to disdain her, keeping their distance.

She bit her lip, her eyes filled with determination as she gazed at the piano stand, seemingly filled with longing.

Xi Xizhi was very curious about what she would do, and her gaze lingered on her for several seconds before gradually shifting away.

An Honghan, holding the little ferret, sat down in a chair, picked up the cup of tea, and took a small sip. "Who wants to play first?"

Many princesses were eager to try and excitedly rushed forward.

To demonstrate her good manners and understanding of etiquette, An Ruoyan naturally wouldn't stoop to their level and squeeze in with them. Inwardly, however, she scoffed at them; they usually fawned over her, but when it came to a conflict of interest, their ugly faces were revealed.

"I'll go first... I'll go first..." Several princesses argued.

Xi Xizhi's bright blue eyes rolled around, and she covered her ears with her paws.

An Honghan also disliked noise. Before the princesses could finish their argument, he coldly shouted, "Get out of my way! Where did you go with the etiquette you learned at the Imperial Academy? You have no manners at all."

He offered this opportunity, which not everyone could have. An Honghan's gaze intentionally swept towards the Fourteenth Princess. He wanted to see what this princess was capable of, after all, she had previously revealed her desire to be seen in public.

If she doesn't meet his standards, then there's no need for him to bother observing her any further.

"You'll try first," An Honghan said, calling out his name.

All eyes turned to where An Honghan was looking, their eyes filled with disbelief. Several princesses were so angry that their shoulders trembled, and they muttered a few curses at An Yunyi.

A voice suddenly broke out, "Royal brother, how could you let fourteenth sister try out the zither? This zither was Consort Hua's beloved possession before her death."

The previous generation of imperial concubines either died with the emperor or were expelled from the palace to live out their retirement.

The sixth princess's mother, Consort Hua, died relatively young. It is said that she was not favored by the late emperor and eventually died of illness due to unresolved resentment.

An Honghan interrupted her, coldly saying, "If I say it's okay, then it's okay. Go and try it."

Overwhelmed with excitement at gaining the attention of her elder brother, An Yunyi replied, "Yes, Your Majesty."

Compared to An Yunyi's excitement, An Ruoyan's expression turned quite ugly. Back when the Empress Dowager passed away, she had already noticed that her brother was giving An Yunyi some attention, but she never expected him to be so disrespectful. Not only did he allow that wretched woman's daughter to touch her mother's precious zither, but he also publicly supported An Yunyi playing the zither.

She was the most beautiful and talented among the princesses, so why was her brother always so cold to her? Recalling the scene of her mother crying and telling her that the vile woman had seduced the late emperor, An Ruoyan's hatred grew stronger.

That vile woman has already stolen Father Emperor's favor from Mother Consort; she absolutely cannot lose to that vile woman's daughter!

Her delicate fists were clenched tightly beneath her long sleeves. Although An Ruoyan tried her best to hide her emotions, her eyes, filled with hatred, still revealed her inner world to the world.

Although An Honghan saw that scene, his expression did not change in the slightest.

An Ruoyan excels in everything, but her only shortcoming is... she lacks patience.

When sparring with a master, a single glance or gesture can reveal their thoughts. If you cannot perfectly conceal your emotions, your enemy will eventually exploit your weaknesses.

Clang, clang, clang...

The gentle strains of the piano began to play. An Yunyi sat in a chair, her light blue dress billowing in the breeze. Her slightly youthful face held an unwavering determination. She was completely absorbed in the music, and whenever the piece was about to reach its climax, she would close her eyes, letting her senses guide her fingers as she played.

The piece of music rose and fell, beginning with a low, plaintive tone, like a lament, telling of one's heartache. The mournful sound seemed to draw everyone's hearts into that realm.

Through the little girl's figure, Xi Xizhi seemed to see her as a child, hiding alone in a corner, with no one to care for her or love her. How could a twelve-year-old child play such a piece of music!

The pitiful cries reached their lowest point, and Xi Xizhi stared intently at the little girl with deep sympathy.

However, in an instant, the melody suddenly soared. It seemed as if new hope had been seen, and the music was filled with a feeling of excitement and urgency.

An Yunyi's appearance is not as good as An Ruoyan's, but at this moment, she is more attractive than An Ruoyan.

An Ruoyan's face was pale, and she bit her lip tightly, hardly believing that the piece was actually played by the timid and cowardly An Yunyi. She had always seen An Yunyi as evasive and lacking in talent, but today she had suddenly shone brightly.

As soon as the music ended, a round of applause rang out.

An Honghan clapped his hands and praised, "You played very well. The emotions conveyed in the piece are very vivid." At the same time, he clearly told him what the little girl was pursuing.

Compared to An Honghan's purpose, Xi Xizhi's clapping was much simpler. She simply thought that it was very difficult for the little girl to play such a piece, and she must have put in a lot of hard work.

In her mind, thirteen years old is still a stage of innocence and romance, so she never thought about conspiracies and struggles.

"Thank you for the compliment, Your Majesty." The little girl, still timid, kept her head down, not daring to look up.

Looking at her expression, An Ruoyan felt increasingly annoyed and snorted inwardly. Although the other party performed better, An Ruoyan was very confident in her own abilities.

"Who will continue playing?" An Honghan asked, pinching the little ferret's paw and teasing it.

The other princesses, to some extent aware of their own limitations, dared not humiliate themselves after hearing An Yunyi's performance. It wasn't that An Yunyi's musical skills were exceptionally high, but rather that she infused her emotions into the music, which alone made the piece stand out.

When it comes to musical skills, who among those present dares to compare with An Ruoyan?